Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
The mystery of godliness
14 I’m writing this to you in the hope that I’ll be able to come to you in the near future. 15 But, if I’m delayed, this will help you to know how people should behave in God’s household, which is the assembly of the living God, the pillar and firm foundation of the truth. 16 Indeed, the mystery of godliness is certainly great:
He was revealed in the flesh,
and vindicated in the spirit;
he appeared to angels,
and was announced to Gentiles;
he was believed in the world,
and taken up in glory.
Beware of false teaching!
4 Now the spirit specifically declares that in the last times some people will abandon the faith, and will cling on to deceitful spirits and demonic teachings 2 perpetrated by hypocritical false teachers whose consciences are branded with a hot iron. 3 They will forbid marriage, and teach people to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by people who believe and know the truth. 4 Every creation of God, you see, is good; nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, 5 for then it is made holy by God’s word and prayer.
Scripture quotations from The New Testament for Everyone are copyright © Nicholas Thomas Wright 2011, 2018, 2019.